Apocryphal Voice Releases "Pain & Pleasure" Album Through Inverse

Originally self-released last year, Apocryphal Voice has now given an official label release for "Pain & Pleasure" today via Inverse Records. You can stream all the tracks below, and Inverse also comments:

"Apocryphal Voice was formed in 1999 by Juhani Jokisalo after having grown out both with musical taste and ambitions from previous more conventional dark metal band, where he was the bassist. Rebellion against that moment's Finnish metal scene also played it's part in giving motivation.

"'The Sickening' demo was recorded in late 2000 with Juhani and drummer Ville Salonen as the only band members. It contained 3 fiercely left-field metal songs utilizing bare negative emotions. 'The Sickening' found its way to hands of label Rage of Achilles who released it as such in 2003 as a mini-CD.

"The following full-length 'Stilltrapped,' now leaning more towards a sort of depressive wintry rock than black -based metal, was self-recorded bit by bit during following years. Apocryphal Voice came to attention of Blut Aus Nord's Vindsval who at the helm of Candlelight sublabel Appease Me arranged the release for 'Stilltrapped' in 2007.

"The following songs, ultimately to end up for 'Pain & Pleasure' full-length, began being composed arranged and rehearsed painstakingly and without any hurry. The new material formed out to have more vitality than before, death metal influences started creeping in, and the sound production was sought out to have more earthly feel. The decision to release the album via distributor/promoter Inverse Records ensured the complete independence.

"Apocryphal Voice is impossible to pin down into any established genre or made to tamely serve any non-artistic usage. It is metal music for true music lovers - those who wish to deeply explore harmonic tensions, structural narratives, and raw emotions, often discomforting ones too."

1. Underneath The Mask 04:58
2. A Failed Species 03:23
3. As Fire Itself Dances 08:06
4. Tongue of Kali 05:41
5. Muddy Trail 06:01
6. Inner Turmoil 04:09
7. Rebel Angels 06:06
8. Waves of Transparency 11:22
9. Megalomanic Euphoria 04:49